ʙᴀᴄᴋ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇᴀᴅ || 𝘓𝘰𝘬𝘪

Crimson || Chapter Thirteen

"How was your morning with Thor?" Bruce asked as soon as I entered the library.

"It was fun, the horses are majestic!"

"And Thor?" He asked again, seeming to be suggesting something.

"Thor was... Thor... as usual." I scoffed.

"Is that a bad thing?" Banner seemed genuinely confused.

"No, not necessarily but when he's so joyful in the morning, I develop a headache." I explained, "Too loud, too early."

The doctor burst into a small fit of laughter, "Well, can't argue with that!"

I smiled back at him, walking towards the table in which he sat - scanning over one of the bigger books I had assigned him. We took it in turns to research Asgards history, in hopes of figuring out what was going on with Loki. We both agreed that he couldn't have been born malicious and just hoped the books would give some sort of an explanation or at least a lead. So far: nothing.

"Found anything?" I questioned.

"Not yet although did Thor ever tell you about a creature named the Frost Giant?" He returned, skimming over the page before pointing at a picture. "Says here their monsters from Jotunheim... been at warn with Asgard for years."

I glanced down at the book. There was a small group of 'frost giants' painted in the corner, surrounded by words that I struggled to understand. "Is that Norwegian?" I asked.

"Yeah - I've been skipping those parts." Bruce admitted.

I studied the painting, they had been drawn like monsters - aggressive, armed, baring their teeth. Their skin was a light blue and eyes glowed crimson red. The one in the middle wore a skull as a necklace and had multiple others around his belt with bones on his metal helmet, resembling horns... they all had the helmets. One had a spiky beard made out of icicles - that frost giant had the tallest horns. Behind the three figures were ten spears, all perfectly pointed and sharp. They all held their own spears, decorated with gold trimmings. Fur covered their shoulders and... privates with knives strapped to each of their thighs - other than that they wore nothing as snow and rain poured upon them.

"They look terrifying." I said under my breath.

Banner shrugged, "Could be a bias? This is an Asgardian book after all."

I nodded in agreement. Even Gods and mythical beings wanted to come out on top, seem braver than they were or stronger than they looked. Ok the other hand, the painting could be draw correctly and in that case, there are greater things to fear than what I had ever encountered.

As I continued to stare, my attention kept drifting back to the flowing crimson eyes. I couldn't help but think of Loki, the things he'd said to me when I questioned the emerald of his eyes at the feast, and his non-Asgardian bone structure.

'Blue, green, red... it's all the same isn't it?'

"No." I breathed out, replicating my response.

"No?" Bruce asked.

I glanced to him then back to the picture, then back to him again. "It... doesn't... really matter..." I tried to put a sentence together but failed miserably, "Keep reading and um.. let me know how it goes!" I grinned, rushing away without another word. I made my way to the other end of the library where I knew the books on different creatures were stored.

"géant du gel... géant du gel... géant du gel..." I scanned the shelves, whispering under my breath. "Frost giants!" My grin widened as I slipped the book out of its place followed by a few more on the same or similar topics.

I slammed them down onto the nearest table, unable to even make eye contact with Dr Banner due to the size of the library, and began reading.

The books were long, repetitive and filled with Norwegian quotes that I decided to google translate although half the answers it gave me made no sense when given the context. Every paragraph referred to them as monsters. Vile creatures set out to kill, born evil, raised by evil and died evil by the hands of Odin and his soldiers.

"Good afternoon."

I glanced up to see Frigga stood infront of me. "Queen Frigga!" I quickly rose from my chair, closing the book, "May I help you, your highness?" I asked, curtsying deeply.

"Please, there is no need for that." She chuckled elegantly. Everything she did was with elegance and grace. "Thor has told me a lot about you, dear."

"He has?"

"Indeed. My son seems to have taken a liking to you." She smiled softly. I couldn't stop the uncomfortable feeling that washed over me. What was that supposed to mean? Frigga glanced down to the book, "Do you understand our language?"

I shook my head, "Unfortunately no, I've been trusting the English parts."

She lowered herself into one of the chairs around the table so I sat back down as well. The queen slid the book over to herself, opening it up onto the page I had just been reading. "Frost giants?..." She looked up at me, locking eye contact, "May I ask why you are interested in them?"

"Uh..." I gulped, "I have a theory I'd like to prove."

She nodded, "Is this about Loki?"

My jaw dropped and eyes widened, "Why would it be about Loki?"

Her lips turned upwards into a delicate smile, "Dear, I am a mother. We know a lot more than you think. Call it instinct."

I smiled at the some-what joke then glanced down to my fingers as they danced around each other, "Yes... it is. I don't want to intrude on any private family matters, it's just that Loki has said some things that got me thinking and... I realised some things myself."

Queen Frigga nodded, "I understand." Closing the book once again, she continued, "I believe this is the type of information Loki should tell you himself."

"Of course! I didn't mean to-"

"I know, dear." She smiled, "You are just like your mother."

"You knew my mother?" I asked, intrigued but also confused.

"To somewhat of an extent. One of our warriors went down to Mudguard, brought a human up on accident. It was I who got your mother back home."

"My mother was here?!"

Frigga chuckled softly, "My goodness, it really is like she's back from the dead and living inside you."

"I get that a lot..." I sighed before putting on a smile. I missed my mother more than anything and as much as they meant well, hearing such words from so many different people didn't make my grief any better.

She smiled again, rising slowly from the seat, "A banquet will be served shortly." Her hands clasped together infront of her as she turned and smoothly walked away.

Well... that didn't go as expected.